Celebrating our roots: Meet Raíz, Asana’s Latinx Employee Resource Group

Team Asana contributor imageTeam Asana
October 10th, 2024
2 min read
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Celebrating our roots: Meet Raíz, Asana’s Latinx Employee Resource Group

At Asana, we take pride in fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging, where everyone’s identity and experiences are celebrated. Last year, we worked to ensure we had a growing number of Latinx employees and seized the opportunity to create a dedicated space for us to connect and engage. Last year, we saw an increase in our Latinx employees and realized there wasn’t a dedicated space for us to connect. We saw, heard, and decided to launch a new Employee Resource Group (ERG), Raíz, for our Latinx community. Raíz means "root" in Spanish and embodies our mission to cultivate a space where the Latinx and Hispanic community at Asana can grow, thrive, and feel a deep sense of connection.

Who is Raíz?

Raíz is an ERG where our members can embrace their roots, honor their identities, and share their rich cultural heritage with the wider Asana team. Through Raíz, we aim to connect with the broader Latinx and Hispanic communities, creating a space for dialogue, celebration, and education. Our mission is simple: “Raíz uplifts our Latinx and Hispanic members to celebrate their diverse culture and community while providing growth opportunities and a sense of familia at Asana.”

Celebrating Latinx Heritage Month

To honor Latinx Heritage Month, we have organized various events and initiatives to recognize and elevate our community. Our theme is “Con Orgullo: Celebrating Latinx Excellence.”  This theme highlights the achievements and contributions of the Latinx community by embracing pride, showcasing excellence, recognizing cultural and historical impact, and fostering education and empowerment. We started the month with a paint night led by a local Latinx artist. We collaborated with our culinary team to showcase a curated, week-long special menu featuring dishes from various Latinx and Hispanic cultures, highlighting the stories of the dishes and culinary staff. And finally, we've set up a giving-back matching program, encouraging employees to support local Latinx organizations.

Celebrating our roots: Meet Raíz, Asana’s Latinx Employee Resource Group

Looking Ahead: Cultivating a Culture of Growth

Raíz has just begun to spread its roots at Asana as a new ERG, and we’re excited for the journey ahead. Our vision is to create a culture where every Latinx and Hispanic employee at Asana feels seen, heard, and valued. For many of our members, joining Raíz means finding a community where they can show up authentically, share their stories, and celebrate their culture. It’s about cultivating a sense of belonging and connection, uniting us through shared values and diverse experiences. By partnering with our Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging team, we build communities that are thriving and support drive business impact through our strategic partnerships. . We hope to inspire other organizations to support their ERGs and encourage the creation of new ones, which are a valuable asset to any organization. 

About the author:

Vianca Garcia is a proud Mexican and Oakland native. She is currently a Project Manager on the Field Readiness team at Asana, where she helps onboard and equip revenue teams with the right tools, and training to be successful in their roles. As a co-lead for Raíz, she is passionate about empowering underrepresented communities, giving-back and driving meaningful impact.

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